‘Bible commands Christians to support Israel,’ says US Republican Senator Ted Cruz

US Republican Senator Ted Cruz sparked backlash online following his controversial remarks defending Israel’s war on Iran. In a viral interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Cruz offered a religious justification for unwavering Christian support for Israel, while appearing uninformed about basic facts related to Iran.

During the interview, Carlson challenged Cruz’s strong pro-Israel stance, questioning the biblical basis of his views.

Cruz responded by saying he had been taught in school that, according to the Bible, “Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.” He added, “I want to be on the blessing side,” emphasising that this belief is deeply rooted in his Christian faith.

However, when Carlson asked where exactly that verse appears in the Bible, Cruz admitted he could not recall the precise reference.

Read: Survey finds majority of Jewish Israelis favors war on Iran

Cruz further stated, “Biblically, we are commanded to support Israel,” prompting Carlson to press for clarification, “We are commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel?”

Sen. Ted Cruz tries (and fails) to use the Bible to justify his support for Israel’s bombing of Iran.

Watch the full episode today at 1PM ET on https://t.co/czOhKmdlbW. pic.twitter.com/QdUuSin3a7

— Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) June 18, 2025

Cruz then claimed that God was referring to the nation of Israel.

Carlson followed up by asking, “Is the nation God refers to in Genesis the same as the country currently run by Benjamin Netanyahu?” To this, Cruz replied, “Yes, it is.”

Carlson pressed further, questioning what countries even existed at the time Genesis was written, and pointed out that the Israelites mentioned in the Bible are believed to be the Jewish people, not a modern political state.

Cruz responded by insisting that the reference was about the political entity of Israel, arguing that it existed historically, followed by a gap, and was subsequently re-created.